Chair



May 31, 1932. T. VONVELMPT CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1928 May 31, 1932. T. VONELMPT CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 25, 1928 INVENTOR T M/vfl/v/ r ATTORNEYS May 31, 1932. VON ELMPT 1,861,331

CHAIR Filed March 23, 1928 3 sheets sheet I5 WIN .D C-- l A \B INVENTOR TVm AfZ/VPT ATTORN EYS Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES THEODORE VON ELMPT', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CHAIR Application filed March 23, 1928. Serial No. 263,981,

My invention relates to improvements in chairs, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a chair which has novel means for concealing a table portion when not in use and for concealing novel supporting means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means whereby the table portion may be removed from its concealed position and supported at a desired location in front of the chair.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means for holding the table portion at any desired angle with respect to the chair portion, whereby it may be used as an inclined reading table, board.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which has a desk, or a drawing 3 novel means whereby the table portion may be removed from its concealed position placed in any of its useful positions, or removed from any of its useful positions and placed in its concealed position by the occupant while seated in the chair.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described by means of which several chairs with the table portions positioned thereupon may be disposed together so as to provide a larger table for playing cards or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device illustrating the table portion in its concealed position and showing it dotted in its useful position,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of my invention, the table being shown as supported on slidable supporting members,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my invention and 19, respectively,

illustrating the manner in which the table portion may be removed and disposed at any desired transverse position so that it may be gsed as a desk, reading table, or drawing oard,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the table 85 portion illustrating the mannerin which two table portions are secured together,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of several chair and table portions positioned 60 together to form a relatively large table portion,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of a supporting and concealing device for a table,

Figure 7 is a top plan view of one of the supporting members, and

Figure 8 is a detail view of the locking means.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a chair portion 1 and a table portion 2. The table portion 2 may be used and also may be termed as a card table, a reading table, a drawing table, or the like. The chair portion 1 is provided with a seat 3 and arms 4 and 5. The arms 4 and 5 extend from a back 6 and are supported by front uprights 7 and 8, respectively, and center uprights 9. The upright 7, 8, and 9 are provided with square openings 10 for receiving horizontal supports 11 and 12. The supports 11 and 12 are identical in constructiontherefore a description of one will apply to them both.

In Figure 7 I have shown a top plan view of the support 11 which is provided with outer recesses 13 and inner recesses 14 in each end thereof. The support is also provided with an elongated compartment 15 which is arranged to receive a vertical support 16. Therefore, it will be understood that the horizontal supports 11 and 12 are identical in construction and both are provided with vertical supports 16. The vertical supports 16 are provided with end members 17 for a purpose hereinafter described. The uprights 7 and 8 are provided with covers 18 which are pivotallymounted thereupon and arranged to conceal the ends of the horizontal supports 11 and 12 when in their normal positions.

The horizontal supports are secured in any desired position by locking units as illus trated in Figure 8. These units are composed of a locking member which is provided with lugs 21 and 22 which are arranged to be received in recesses 23 disposed at different intervals in the side walls of the horizontal supporting members. The locking member 20 is provided with a tapered surface 24 and an elongated recess or slot 25, the slot being disposed longitudinally in the tapered wall. An actuating member 26 having a finger hold notch 27 formed therein is provided with a tapered surface 28 disposed adjacent the tapered surface 24 of the locking member 20. A guide pin 29 is carried by the actuating member 26 and is receivable in the slot 25. The chair portion 1 is provided with horizontal guides 30 which terminate a short distance from the legs 31. The legs 31 are provided with stop members 32 which extend inwardly and which are positioned a short distance beneath the horizontal guides 30.

The table portion 2 is provided with a drawer 33 which is movably supported by runners 34. Retaining blocks 35 are carried by the runners 34. Retaining strips 36 and 37 are disposed at spaced-apart positions upon the undersurface of the table portion. Supporting locks 38 and 39 are secured to the undersurface of the table portion at unequal distances from the outer edges thereof. A plurality of openings 40 are provided in the table portion in close proximity to the inner edge thereof for receiving projections 41 of holding blocks 42 for providing a holding ridge.

A table portion concealing means 43 is provided upon each side of the chair portion 1 and is provided with projections 44 which e2:- tend on each side of the respective side legs of the chair portion. The retaining means, which are two in number, are identical in construction. Therefore, a description of one will apply to them both. In Figure 6, I have shown an enlarged illustration of one of the securing means which consists of a casing 45 having a horizontally extending flange portion 46 positioned beneath the upper edge of the casing and arranged to support one side of the table portion. The flange portion 46 extends inwardly. Latches 47 are receivable in notches 48 in the legs 31 for locking the table portion in its concealed position. The latches 47 are provided with actuating bars 49 which extend through the casing 45 for a purpose hereinafter described. The latches 47 are normally held outwardly by means of compression springs 50.

The front portion of the bottom 3 is provided with braces 51 which are pivoted at their outer ends to the bottom 3.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Let us assume that the user is seated in the chair portion and that the table portion is concealed adjacent the bottom portion as illustrated in Figure 1. The user may grip the actuating bars 49 and force them toward the center of the concealing means. In this manner, the latches 47 are drawn against the tension of the springs 50 out of the notches 48, and the members 43 may be moved downwardly guided by the lugs 44 until the members 43 rest upon the pins 32. During this downward movement of the members 43, the table portion will contact with the horizontal guides 30. The user may then remove the table portion from either side of the chair.

The horizontal supports are unlocked by the operators gripping the actuating members 26 at the notches 27 and moving them outwardly, allowing the locks 20 to move downwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8, whereby the lugs 21 will be freed from the notches 23. After the horizontal supporting members have been moved out the desired distance, they may be locked in place by again moving the actuating members 26 inwardly so as to raise the lock 20 into locking relation with the horizontal supports. The table portion 2 may then be disposed upon the horizontal supports, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It will be noted in'these figures that the upper surface of the table portion is in direct alignment with the upper surfaces of the arms 4 and 5. The operator may brace the horizontal supporting members by swinging the braces 51 about their pivots so that the free edges will engage with the undersurfaces of the horizontal supports. In this manner, the occupant or user may use the table for any desired purpose.

In Figure 5, it is illustrated how more than one chair portion and table portion may be used when more than one person desires to play cards. As for instance, two persons may place the outer ends of the table portions together, as illustrated at A and 13. Furthermore, three, four, five, or sir; players may also place the table portions as illustrated at C, D, E, and F for forming one continuous table portion.

In Figure 3, I have shown the table portion in solid lines extending transversely with respect to the chair portion and provided with the holding blocks 42 so as to be used as a writing table or a reading table. While the table portion is in this position, it is sup ported at its outer end by the vertical supports 16 which have the adjustable end members 17 disposed adjacent the retaining strips 36 or 37. The opposite ends of the vertical supports are disposed. in the recesses 13 or 14. The retaining blocks 35 extend upon the inner portion of the arms 4 and 5 and in this manner the table portion is held against displacement.

-In Figure 3,1 have shown the table portion in dotted lines, as it may be used for a drawing table, or, if so desired, as a writing table. When in this position, the table portion 2 is supported at its outer end by relatively short vertical supports 52 which are identical in construction to the relatively long vertical supports 16 but merely shorter in length.

The table portion 2 may be disposed again in its concealed position by removing the table portion from the supports and passing it between either set of side legs so that it will rest upon the horizontal guides 30. When the table portion has been moved inwardly a sufficient distance and rests upon the guides 30, see Figure 3, the user may move the members 4:3 upwardly, taking with them the table portion for securing the table portion adjacent the bottom 3 when the latches 47 are forced into the notches 48 by the springs 50. In this manner, the table is again concealed, and the horizontal supports, together with the vertical supports, may then be disposed in their normal positions and locked in place by the locking units. Then by swinging the braces 51 about their pivots into their normal positions, the table portion and the means for supporting the table portion are concealed from View.

In Figure 4, it will be noted that the retaining blocks 35 are supported by adjustable members 54 which are arranged to be locked in any adjusted position by means of screws 55. The adjustable members 54: are carried by the runners 34. With this construction, the inner portion of the table portion may be raised or lowered by moving the adjustable members outwardly or inwardly.

The relatively short supports 52, together with any other size supports desired to be used, may be carried in the drawer 33 when not in use.

It will be noted that the free ends of the braces 51 are tapered so that the fiat tapered surfaces 56 will contact with the undersurfaces of the horizontal supports 11 and 12. A block 57 is carried by the bottom 3 for taking up the space allowed for the tapered ends of the braces 51.

The legs 31 are provided with tapered slots 58 for receiving the latches 47 when the members 43 are in their lowered positions; i. e., adjacent the stops 32. The purpose of the tapered slots is to allow free upward move ment of the members 43 and not be checked by the pressure of the springs 50.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, said chair portion having a seat, means for concealing said table portion adjacent said seat, means whereby said concealing means may be moved away from said seat, stops carried by said chair portion for said concealing means, and guide means for receiving said table portion, whereby said table portion may be readily removed from said chair portion.

2. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, arms carried by said chair portion, horizontal supports disposed adjacent said arms and arranged to be moved with respect thereto for supporting said table portion, means for looking said horizontal supports in place, said means comprising a movable locking member having projections thereon, said horizontal supports having recesses arranged to receive said projections, and means for moving said locking members for moving said pr0- jections into said recesses.

3. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, said chair portion having a seat, a vertically movable table-receiving and supporting means disposed on each side of the chair beneath the seat and movable to a position near the seat whereby the table is concealed, and means carried by said table-supporting means for locking said table-supporting means in position and for releasing said table-supporting means to permit the lowering of the latter and the subsequent removal of the table.

4. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, said chair portion having a seat, a vertically movable table-receiving and supporting means disposed on each side of the chair beneath theseat and movable to a position near the seat whereby the table is concealed, means carried by said table-supporting means for looking said table-supporting means in position and for releasing said tablesupporting means to permit the lowering of the latter and the subsequent removal of the table, stop members for limiting the movement of the table, and other stop members spaced from said first-named stop members to permit a further movement of the table-receiving and supporting means.

5. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, arms carried by said chair portion, horizontal supports disposed underneath said arms and arranged to be moved with respect thereto for supporting said table portion, means for lock ing said horizontal supports in place, said means comprising a movable locking member having projections thereon, said horizontal supports having recesses arranged to receive said projections, means for moving said locking members to force said projections into said recesses, and means for supporting said table portion at an inclined position with respect to the horizontal supports.

6. A device of the type described comprising a chair portion, a table portion, arms carried by said chair portion, horizontal supports disposed underneath said arms and arranged to be moved with respect thereto for supporting said table portion, means for locking said horizontal supports in place, said means comprising a movable locking memher having projections thereon, said horizontal supports havin recesses arranged to receiVe said projections, means for moving said locking members to force said projections into said recesses, means for supporting said table portion at an inclined position with respect to the horizontal supports, and pivoted brace members carried by the chair portion and adapted to be swung into position to form auxiliary supports for the outer ends of said horizontal supports.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois this 16th day of March, A. D. 1928.

THEODORE VON ELMPT. 

